James Bean | Allagash Brewing Company

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Notes / Commercial Description:
James Bean is a bourbon barrel aged, Belgian-style strong ale that is infused with cold press coffee, post fermentation. Coffee, vanilla and bourbon dominate the aroma. Flavors of caramel, coffee, bourbon, and oak present themselves throughout this full-bodied beer. The coffee used in James Bean is Speckled Ax, roasted right here in Maine. The beans used are Ethiopia Amaro Gayo and are known for their lush blackberry and blueberry fruit flavors.

Reviews by JakerLou:

More User Reviews:

Get two. This was on tap at Monk's in Philly to celebrate Allagash's 20th Anniversary. 20 different Allagash beers on tap!!! Had to get two James Beans. Curieux is my favorite, and this one is Curieux with Maine cold pressed coffee! No change in color (that I can tell) and minimal head. I had to try two to really get the coffee tones. I may need a third, as the coffee is not at the front. Get some now if you can.

A: Golden-Amber color with great clarity. Fine-bubbled white head settles after a time. Wispy lacing.

S: Malts bring light toast, pie crust and sugary graham cracker. Coffee is lightly roasty and nutty with a unique blackberry aroma. The barrel adds soft traces of bourbon and nuances of oaky vanillins, caramel chews, and toasted coconut, and even some chocolate. Surprisingly restrained, but in a good way. It's perfectly balanced and all the subtleties are able to pull through.

T: Graham cracker/pie crust malt base is the backbone, though the coffee drives most of the experience. The coffee addition is nutty, lightly roasty and smokey, but overwhelmingly berry-like. Very discreet tanginess. Spocy hop bitterness drops in middle to back, but stays out of the direct spotlight. Barrel plays a supporting role, displaying subtle bourbon, barrel toast, oaky vanillins, and a faint hint of toasty coconut. These flavors build only slightly and trail into the finish.

M: Medium bodied. Round and chewy. Carbonation tingles on the tongue and makes things airy in feel and provides lift.

O: The coffee beans used here are very unique, and the Belgian strong pale ale on which it rests is a rather unconventional choice of host as well. It's a far cry from the brash imperial stouts we usually see getting the coffee and bourbon barrel treatment. That said, it all works very well. Don't sleep on this as a dessert pairing either. I once attended an Allagash beer dinner where this was served alongside blueberry cobbler, and it remains one of the more memorable pairings I've experienced to date.

The beer poured a clear gold color without any head.
Coffee aroma. Some sweet fruit.
Strong coffee up front, then a bit of milk chocolate, with some pear at the end.
Incredibly smooth, with no note of the alcohol.
Loved it.

Interesting idea. I've had a few coffee IPAs really recently that are definitely love em or hate ems - but at least I could tell they were IPAs - with coffee. No way could I guess this beer is a Tripel. It's just boozy coffee. Not a horrible beer but I feel the praise here is unwarranted. Your mileage may differ. Cheers!